The clothes moths have infested many homes, and are most frequently found in the summer months when they enter the house. Two kinds are common: The case-making moth is so called because the caterpillar spins a shelter case of silk and bits of the material on which it is feeding. The webbing clothes moth, the most abundant species, spins silky webs as it moves over a piece of material. The clothes moth stays in dark places and flies very little.

The female moth begins to lay eggs, before it is a day old, and lays about 100 in the 7 to 14 days of its life. The soft, white eggs are laid loosely upon the material on which the larvae are to feed. These larvae hatch from the eggs after 4-8 days. It is the larvae that does the damage to clothes and are about 1 cm long white worms.

The larvae eat furiously for about 40 days before turning into pupae. The pupae stage lasts approx. 8-10 days before turning into adult moths. Adults are yellow-brown, with narrow wings, about 12 mm long.

Adult moths eat protein-based material; they have an unusual ability to digest Keratin. Keratin is found in woollens, furs, hair, leather, feathers and stored meat. Clothes moths hardly ever damage synthetic materials. Clothes moths will also damage silk and linens.

HOW TO TACKLE MOTHS

The first order of business is to clean stored clothes. It is important to identify the source of infestation. Besides looking where clothes are stored, look around your baseboards for fluff. At times they can be found in your kitchen and in bird nests. Vacuum very well all the cracks and crevices of the infested area.

SOME USEFUL TIPS

The old fashion mothballs (with their distinctive smell) are still very effective when storing clothes.

There are now also many anti-moth products which do not smell of mothballs. They have a useful life of about three months so remember to replace them on a regular basis.

If you have expensive woollens, keep them in plastic bags; this will protect them.